N peters



(No Model.)

R. M. FRYER.

CENTER BOARD FOR VESSELS.

No. 351,831. Patented Nov. 2, 1886.

KWM

ROBERT M. FRYER,

UNITED STATES OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OFOIIE-IIALF TO TIMOTHY, OMEARAQOF SAME PLACE.

CENTER-BOARD FOR VESS'ELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 351,831, dated November 2, 1886.

' Application filed September 10, 1885. Serial No. 176,694. (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I; ROBERT M. FRYER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Center-Boards, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to construct a center -board for canoes and other light boats, and which can also be used as a wheel to support them while in theact of removing them from or placing them in the water, and also for the purpose of moving them from one point to another on land.

The invention consists of a revolving disk located and operated within the well of a canoe or boat in such a manner that it can be purpose of moving the boat from or to the water or on land, it projects below the keel, as hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a Well in a boat provided with my improvement. Fig. 2 is across-section of the same. Fig. 3 is a side elevation ofa boat provided with improved apparatus on both ends. Fig. 4 is a top' view of the well with cover removed. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a canoe with my device located in the center. Fig. 6 is a top view of same.

In Fig. l, A represents a longitudinal section of the well located in the center of a boat, as shown, in which is provided a revolving disk, B, supported at the center by vibrating arms 0, attached to the center-pin D (of the said disk) at one end and at the other end to 7 .an oscillating bar, E, which is secured in boxes F to the bottom of the well, as shown. By this arrangement the disk is permitted to be raised and lowered at pleasure, and also to revolve while in the water or when on the landin the first case as a center-board, and in the latter to act as a bearing-wheel to support the boat while being launched-into or taken from the water, and also for. moving the same from place to place while upon land. In this view I also show a second set of arms,

When used as a wheel for the of the United States, is

G, which are also pivoted to the center-pin of the disk, and are connected at the other end with a cross-bar, H, which slides in a guide,

I, which permits it to move backward and for-" ward in a horizontal line as the disk is raised and lowered. This cross bar is locked in place when at the end of its stroke toward the disk by pawl J, which is thrown up to release the said bar H by the cord or cable K, which 6 leads out from the top or cover of the well to within reach of the operator, where it may be fastened to prevent locking the disk down when necessary. It will be seen that this pawl locks thedisk when up as well as when down 6 in place, as the cross-bar is nearest the disk in both positions. L is another cord or cable leading out in a similar manner, and attached to the center-pin of the disk by side straps, M, for the purpose of raising or lowering the said disk at pleasure. The outer side of the well is provided with cleats N and O, by which the cords or cables are fastenedto hold the disk in any position desired.

It will be seen by the arrangement of the supporting-arms O andG that the weight of the boat is divided between the two outer centers by bars E and H when the latter is locked by pawl J, while the weight of the disk is supported in like manner.

It may here be stated that more than one well provided with my improved device may be used in a boat. For instance, one such apparatus may be located at each end,'whereby a boat may be supported by two wheels instead of one, while the center-board surface may thus'be doubled.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a boat, a well extending up into center-board pivoted therein and capable of vertical adjustment by any suitable means.

whereby the said center-board may be utilized .to sustain the boat as a vehicle while being moved on land, substantially as set forth.

2. In a boat having a disk-like revolving center-board vertically adjustable in a well or casing and provided with a double set of arms pivoted thereto at their inner ends and working from opposite centers, one of said arms bethe ,body thereof and provided with a diskdike ing pivoted at its outer end to the well or easing and the other having its outer end moving freely in guides in said well or easing, substantially as described.

5 3. In a boat, a disk-like revolving centerboard vertically adjustable in a well or casing and provided with a double set of arms pivoted thereto and to the well or easing, as described, and working from opposite centers,

IO one of said arms being provided with a latch or pawl by which the said arm may be held in a fixed position, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presenee of two witnesses, this 8th day of Septem- I5 ber, 1885.

ROBT. M. FRYER. \Vitnesses:

WILLIAM H. CLARKSON, M. J. MCGUIRE. 

